I don't think that's such a problem. They were already aware their son was in the hospital greviously hurt and they were en route. It's not like the school didn't contact them ASAP. And quite frankly, if you send your kids to boarding school, they're out of your family for the time and part of that organization. That organization has an obligation to its members when something happens to one.

Tragedy, but compared to the Syria situation and stuff like that it's a non-issue.

doglover:I don't think that's such a problem. They were already aware their son was in the hospital greviously hurt and they were en route. It's not like the school didn't contact them ASAP. And quite frankly, if you send your kids to boarding school, they're out of your family for the time and part of that organization. That organization has an obligation to its members when something happens to one.

Tragedy, but compared to the Syria situation and stuff like that it's a non-issue.

Yeah, mostly this. Welcome to the age where instantaneous communication is now possible. Yes, it was very sad that someone at the school jumped the gun; but would the parents be "suing the school" if one of the kid's classmates had found out and posted it on his Facebook first without the school's knowledge? Or would they now be suing the doctor for daring to pronounce the boy dead before the parents could get there first?

I now foresee a whole new era of people being kept alive on breathing machines so this doesn't happen--"Yes, your son died 14 hours ago, but we didn't dare pronounce in case you felt like suing us because his friends wanted to tell you how sorry they were ahead of your official grief?"

30k a year for tuition and the school couldn't be troubled to work in "look both ways before crossing the road" into their curriculum? I'd be pretty litigious if I were paying that kind of money and I hadn't taught my kids the basic rules of crossing the road before preschool.

Gyrfalcon:doglover: I don't think that's such a problem. They were already aware their son was in the hospital greviously hurt and they were en route. It's not like the school didn't contact them ASAP. And quite frankly, if you send your kids to boarding school, they're out of your family for the time and part of that organization. That organization has an obligation to its members when something happens to one.

Tragedy, but compared to the Syria situation and stuff like that it's a non-issue.

Yeah, mostly this. Welcome to the age where instantaneous communication is now possible. Yes, it was very sad that someone at the school jumped the gun; but would the parents be "suing the school" if one of the kid's classmates had found out and posted it on his Facebook first without the school's knowledge? Or would they now be suing the doctor for daring to pronounce the boy dead before the parents could get there first?

I now foresee a whole new era of people being kept alive on breathing machines so this doesn't happen--"Yes, your son died 14 hours ago, but we didn't dare pronounce in case you felt like suing us because his friends wanted to tell you how sorry they were ahead of your official grief?"

You're both making ridiculous assertions to cast the family as looney. The head of the school decided to post about the death of a student without getting the family's permission. While I'm not sure if the school deserve to be sued, or if he deserves to lose his job over it, it's a colossally bone headed move which understandably has left the family very upset.

Why would the hospital notify the school of the death before his next of kin? That strikes me as a bizarre violation of privacy, unless he actually died on the spot in front of everybody before the medics could scrape him off the pavement.

Gyrfalcon:Yeah, mostly this. Welcome to the age where instantaneous communication is now possible. Yes, it was very sad that someone at the school jumped the gun; but would the parents be "suing the school" if one of the kid's classmates had found out and posted it on his Facebook first without the school's knowledge? Or would they now be suing the doctor for daring to pronounce the boy dead before the parents could get there first?

It wasn't "someone". It was the Principal of the school. Someone is a position of leadership and is responsible for other people's children. Making sure the parents are notified and (more importantly) understanding their wishes is leadership 101. He showed an incredible lack of common sense. One wonders what other bad decisions he is making on a daily basis if he can't even handle this basic scenario.

gingerjet:Gyrfalcon: Yeah, mostly this. Welcome to the age where instantaneous communication is now possible. Yes, it was very sad that someone at the school jumped the gun; but would the parents be "suing the school" if one of the kid's classmates had found out and posted it on his Facebook first without the school's knowledge? Or would they now be suing the doctor for daring to pronounce the boy dead before the parents could get there first?

It wasn't "someone". It was the Principal of the school. Someone is a position of leadership and is responsible for other people's children. Making sure the parents are notified and (more importantly) understanding their wishes is leadership 101. He showed an incredible lack of common sense. One wonders what other bad decisions he is making on a daily basis if he can't even handle this basic scenario.

He should be terminated immediately. For cause.

Well, no argument there; my point was only that it's just as likely one of the kid's classmates could have found out and texted the parents "So sory to hear about Jrs death he waz reely cool". And it's not really a basic scenario--it's likely never happened before. Does it happen a lot where you live, that kids die at boarding school, and the principal has to decide whether to let the students' friends (who are probably very close to him, at least as close as the parents he hasn't seen for six months) know as soon as possible?

Bear in mind that at a BOARDING SCHOOL, the kids are family too, and likely as traumatized as the parents, especially when one of their number gets run over by a car. Probably the principal had been besieged by dozens of Jr's friends "Is he okay? Did he die? When can we find out?" Now, I'll admit that dummy principal should have posted "We will notify you as soon as his parents arrive," but you can see where he/she was coming from.

I don't care if this is "the information age". There are certain protocols, etiquettes, professional behaviors.. whatever you want to call it... that the school majorly screwed up with. If one of the kid's friends was there and tweeted about it or put it on Facebook, fine. But for the school to make a official public announcement without having even spoken to the parents is beyond irresponsible.

Not saying the school should have to do any kind of settlement, but people have been rightly fired for less.

HotWingAgenda:Why would the hospital notify the school of the death before his next of kin?

I'd imagine they didn't just say "ok, cool, get back to us whenever" after he was taken to hospital, and there were probably teachers or even students anxiously trying to see how he was. Calling frequently, or even waiting at the hospital to see how he was. If you want to blame anyone, blame the hospital for telling any of them before the parents.

The reason you can't send your kid to a high-dollar school is because you are a LOSER. You are stupid and/or lazy, most likely both. Just because you will never, ever do anything significant in your whole life is no reason to relish the death of another persons kid. FARK all of you.

HotWingAgenda:Why would the hospital notify the school of the death before his next of kin? That strikes me as a bizarre violation of privacy, unless he actually died on the spot in front of everybody before the medics could scrape him off the pavement.

This.

/Found out my Uncle Pat died via Facebook. Uncle Pat lived four miles away from me in Waikiki. I found out from my cousin who lives in Virginia. I was pissed. My cousin's dad (my Uncle John) was pissed because he thought I was the first to learn of Uncle Pat dying, but I wasn't. So stupid.//My Grandma is currently comatose and shuffling off the mortal coil. I told my parents to tell me when she dies before anyone posts it on Facebook. I can't take finding out that way about my beloved Grandma Bear.

HIPPA of course does not exist in England, so while such a disclosure would be illegal in the US, it may not be there. Without knowing how long the drive was for the parents I'm hard pressed to decide if it was "too soon" for the school to put up such a notice. The time between when the parents were first notified to when the school posted the notice may have been hours. Plus, if the school was already being contacted by the parents of other students (which may well have been the case) then I can see the desire to get out in front of the situation.

PsychoLaurie:HotWingAgenda: Why would the hospital notify the school of the death before his next of kin? That strikes me as a bizarre violation of privacy, unless he actually died on the spot in front of everybody before the medics could scrape him off the pavement.

This.

/Found out my Uncle Pat died via Facebook. Uncle Pat lived four miles away from me in Waikiki. I found out from my cousin who lives in Virginia. I was pissed. My cousin's dad (my Uncle John) was pissed because he thought I was the first to learn of Uncle Pat dying, but I wasn't. So stupid.//My Grandma is currently comatose and shuffling off the mortal coil. I told my parents to tell me when she dies before anyone posts it on Facebook. I can't take finding out that way about my beloved Grandma Bear.

Sorry toots, that's just part of being alive in the information age. My great great great great grandfather tweeted his last words: "et tu, @Brute"

Bender The Offender:30k a year for tuition and the school couldn't be troubled to work in "look both ways before crossing the road" into their curriculum? I'd be pretty litigious if I were paying that kind of money and I hadn't taught my kids the basic rules of crossing the road before preschool.

PsychoLaurie:HotWingAgenda: Why would the hospital notify the school of the death before his next of kin? That strikes me as a bizarre violation of privacy, unless he actually died on the spot in front of everybody before the medics could scrape him off the pavement.

This.

Is "this" slang for "derp"?

Because they found out about the school first (people don't have their parent's info tattooed on their body) and the school should have had the "emergency contact" information.

impaler:Bender The Offender: 30k a year for tuition and the school couldn't be troubled to work in "look both ways before crossing the road" into their curriculum? I'd be pretty litigious if I were paying that kind of money and I hadn't taught my kids the basic rules of crossing the road before preschool.

PsychoLaurie: HotWingAgenda: Why would the hospital notify the school of the death before his next of kin? That strikes me as a bizarre violation of privacy, unless he actually died on the spot in front of everybody before the medics could scrape him off the pavement.

This.

Is "this" slang for "derp"?

Because they found out about the school first (people don't have their parent's info tattooed on their body) and the school should have had the "emergency contact" information.

I know nothing about English medical privacy, but in the US, doctors can't go around pronouncing medical diagnosis to whoever the f*ck calls to ask about a minor patient. Unless Mr. Whoeverthef*ck strolls in with a medical power of attorney or something.

Gyrfalcon:gingerjet: Gyrfalcon: Yeah, mostly this. Welcome to the age where instantaneous communication is now possible. Yes, it was very sad that someone at the school jumped the gun; but would the parents be "suing the school" if one of the kid's classmates had found out and posted it on his Facebook first without the school's knowledge? Or would they now be suing the doctor for daring to pronounce the boy dead before the parents could get there first?

It wasn't "someone". It was the Principal of the school. Someone is a position of leadership and is responsible for other people's children. Making sure the parents are notified and (more importantly) understanding their wishes is leadership 101. He showed an incredible lack of common sense. One wonders what other bad decisions he is making on a daily basis if he can't even handle this basic scenario.

He should be terminated immediately. For cause.

Well, no argument there; my point was only that it's just as likely one of the kid's classmates could have found out and texted the parents "So sory to hear about Jrs death he waz reely cool". And it's not really a basic scenario--it's likely never happened before. Does it happen a lot where you live, that kids die at boarding school, and the principal has to decide whether to let the students' friends (who are probably very close to him, at least as close as the parents he hasn't seen for six months) know as soon as possible?

Bear in mind that at a BOARDING SCHOOL, the kids are family too, and likely as traumatized as the parents, especially when one of their number gets run over by a car. Probably the principal had been besieged by dozens of Jr's friends "Is he okay? Did he die? When can we find out?" Now, I'll admit that dummy principal should have posted "We will notify you as soon as his parents arrive," but you can see where he/she was coming from.

And how would anyone find our he had died? The doctors would, I presume, only inform the person in loco parentis, ie the head of the school or the teacher attending hospital with the injured boy. No reason anyone else could or would find out unless the school passes on the information.

HotWingAgenda:Why would the hospital notify the school of the death before his next of kin? That strikes me as a bizarre violation of privacy, unless he actually died on the spot in front of everybody before the medics could scrape him off the pavement.

Because he was at boarding school and the school has legal responsibility for him and the hospitalonly have the school's contact details and it should be for the school to notify the parents?

Mr. Eugenides:HIPPA of course does not exist in England, so while such a disclosure would be illegal in the US, it may not be there. Without knowing how long the drive was for the parents I'm hard pressed to decide if it was "too soon" for the school to put up such a notice. The time between when the parents were first notified to when the school posted the notice may have been hours. Plus, if the school was already being contacted by the parents of other students (which may well have been the case) then I can see the desire to get out in front of the situation.

The mother knew before she arrived at the hospital. The police escorting her told her not to call her husband. The school has already accepted liability. This is much ado about lawsuits, however much the parents claim they aren't seeking to profit from the death of their son.

I hope they'll donate all proceeds to a scholarship fund so that other boys can afford a £30,000/$46000/ year day school.

Pert:HotWingAgenda: Why would the hospital notify the school of the death before his next of kin? That strikes me as a bizarre violation of privacy, unless he actually died on the spot in front of everybody before the medics could scrape him off the pavement.

Because he was at boarding school and the school has legal responsibility for him and the hospitalonly have the school's contact details and it should be for the school to notify the parents?